Fan Hit By Foul Ball At Cubs-Pirates Game Released From Hospital

By Margaret Paulson in News on Apr 21, 2015 7:35PM

The fan hit by a foul ball during Monday night's Cubs-Pirates game at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park was released from the hospital and is apparently okay, according to a Pirates’ statement.

Footage of the incident had many fans holding their breath, as a female fan returning to her front-row seat behind home plate was walloped in the back of the head by a foul ball off of Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro’s bat. The fan is seen staggering before dropping to the ground. There are audible gasps from the sportscasters and nearby fans, though Castro doesn’t seem to notice, smacking away at his gum like "NBD."

Stadium EMTs responded immediately, as did the people sitting near her, and the fan was conscious when loaded onto a stretcher and even seen giving people near her a thumbs up. Play was stopped for 23 minutes during the ordeal and the woman was transferred to a local hospital for evaluation.

Though there are nets up behind home plate, the fan, who was returning from concessions, was standing very close to the net, which had enough give to catch the ball while still enabling it to hit her.

Upon the fan’s release from the hospital, the Pirates issued a statement, saying:

“We are extremely grateful for this positive outcome. The organization is in the process of reaching out to her to show our support.”